The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-02-10
THAT TYPICAL AMERICAN,
Truth Stranger Than Fiction.
[Er0r he louisville Timca.l

tucky. His father, Thomas bope Neisoi''
was tho Grst United States Minister to
Turkey, and died while a member OF
Congress from the Winchester, kentucky,
district. His great grandfather was
Thomas Nelson, Jr., one of the Virginia
signcrs of the Declaration of lndepen-
dence. Nelson county, of which Bards-
town is the scat, was named Tor this
famous family. Gen. Nelson, who was
killed at the Galt House early in the
war by Gen. jeff Davis, and bis brother,
Gen. Nelson, late Minister TO Mexico, a
familiar figure in Washington, are ofthis
immediate family. Judge James Madi-
son Nelson went from Kentucky 10 Hi
nois, and later to New York, where he
has repeatedly been a member of the
Legislature and prominent in politics.
He knew Abraham Lincoln intimately
for quarter Of a century, and was often
with him at the While House during the
trying times of the war. He is an ardent
admirer ofthe 'martyr President but
must, he says, smile at the stories told
and the efforts TO manufacture . demigod.
he says N[r. Lincoln WAS 3 child OF
nature, with kindly impulses, some
strcaks of genius and which compensated
for his lack of culture. The Judge tells
me some things which | am satisfied have
never appeared in print. Said he: In
religion Mr.. Lincoln was of about the
same belief as Bob Ingersoll, and there is
no account of his ever having changed.
He went to church q few times with his
family while he was President. but SO
far as have been able 10 find out he
remained an unbeliever. l asked him
once about his fervent Thanksgiving
message, and twitted him with being an
unbelieyer, in what was published. Oh
said he, that is some of Seward's non.
sense, and it plcases the FOOLS Mr.. Lin.
coin, in his younger days, wrote book,
which was published, in which he
endeavored to prove the fallacy of the
plan Of salvation and of the divinity Of
Christ.
"Is it true that Lincoln was a lunalic
fnr fine ?n ] asked.
Eyes. He went crazy because lie
could not marry sister Of Judge Ninian
Edwards, who was 3. native of Logan
county, Ky, but then 4 Judge in Illinois.
Lincoln went stark mad On this last
affair and was confined in log hut with
roof nailed down TO prevent his escape,
and fed through crack between the logs.
Some young kcntuckians, whose fathers
had settled upon the rich lands of South
ern Illinois, heard that young man
from their State was shut up under such
miserable conditions, and they went up
to the lonely cabin and took him to Ken
lucky, where he was placed in an asylum
aud remained for year or eighteen
months. He afterwards married Miss
Todd, Judge Edwards sister in-aw, you
will remember. 1t was an ill.starretl
match, and size led him an unhappy life.
1t was that which gave him that woe
bsgone look. Congenially mated he
would have been one Of the happiest of
men. His wife fused aud quarreled
with him. She had a contempt for his
p!ebian origin, and often taunted him
with it. She was more rabid Republi,
can during the war than her husband,
though she was doubted at the North.
GAS an illustration of my statement
her youngest sister, Lacy, had married
AN Alabamiun ratncd White. White
was elected to the Confederate Congress
and was 1T Richmond. His wife was
visiting relatives in the country al the
time and came 10 Washington 10 get 4
pass through the lines. She called at
the White House and scnt her name TO
her sister, the Presidents wife. Mrs.
Lincoln refused to see her. She sent her
name up again and was again refused.
She went to the National Hotel aad
sought Mr.. Crittenden, who was then =
Senator from kentucky, Why said he,
are you daughter OF my Old friend, Col.
Tood?' and he hugged :i.:l kissed her
there and theu as he would child. 'Oi
course, said lie, you have been to see
your sister at the White House z
"'Ycs,' she replied 'bu, she refused to
see me-
".Very WE'LL said Mr.. Crittcn'icn 1
will see what can do for you with the
President. Ithink can get you pass
through the lines to your husband The
next day Mr.. Crittenden went with her
to the White House and, leaving her in
the carriage, he went up TO the Prcsi-
dents presence and told him that his
sister-in.l law, Mrs. Lucy White, OF Ala
bama, was below and wanted to see him,
"slYhat, Lou lere?I ii go right down
toa sec her. Why didn't YOU bring her
up?
Lincoln suddenly slapped on his ole
slough, bat and hastcned dowa the stairs
10 see his youngcs! sistcr-in-law. He
embraced her and lifted her out of the
carriage. lie asked her to come in, but
she declined and told him what !icr sister
had done the day before. She would
not 90 in, for she told Mr.. Lincoln what
he woul,. :a.ch if she d.l. Lincoln tolc
her, Of course, he would issue her tht
pass she wanted, ami told he', jokinsiy
that he did not care how much 1uinlnt
she carried through, and tha her trunk
Should rot be searched. You knowthert
was then great to do about the SNUG
Cling of quinine through the lines
Strange as it mav seem, Lincon's sisters
in-law-thrce or four of them--were vcri
fond of him, while his wife treated hin